Public safety an issue in letter to elderly

Eron Ben-Yehuda

HUNTINGTON BEACH -- The war over Wal-Mart may have died down with the

defeat of Measure I last week, but criticism lingers over a “scare

tactic” used to convince the elderly to vote against the ballot

initiative.

The letter was sent out to senior citizens just days before the March 7

election, warning them that a vote for the measure “threatens” the city’s

ability to provide “badly needed” police and paramedic services. But,

Measure J, which was approved by voters last week, asked residents

whether they wanted the city to spend half of its income from Wal-Mart on

park and sports facilities and didn’t mention anything about public

safety.

The privately funded letter was signed by four City Council members who

support the retailer’s plan to build a megastore, which the measure

intended to undermine by having the project site rezoned from commercial

to residential. Voters defeated the measure 54% to 46%.

“I realize that we lost the election, but I think what they did to the

senior citizens was an out-and-out scare tactic,” said Wal-Mart opponent

Donna Griffith, whose 83-year-old mother received the letter.

Councilwoman Shirley Dettloff, who signed the mailer along with Mayor

Dave Garofalo and council members Ralph Bauer and Pam Julien, defended

both its content and tone.

Dettloff denied the mailer was sent to the elderly because they are

especially vulnerable. They were targeted because of their thoughtfulness

and maturity, she said.

“They make good, probably the best, decisions because it’s based on

experience,” she said.

Had the measure passed, the city would have lost $400,000 in annual sales

tax revenue the store was projected to generate, she said. To make

matters worse, the homes that would have been built instead of the store

would have cost the city more in services than they could bring in

property taxes, putting the city into a deeper financial hole, she added.

Historically, the city had come close to cutting corners on public

safety, and the potential passage of the measure did not bode well for

the future, she said.

“Indeed, these were possibilities,” she said.

But Councilman Peter Green said the $400,000 is only a drop in the bucket

when you consider the city’s annual operating budget of more than $200

million. Green said he was “appalled” by the letter. So was Councilman

Dave Sullivan.

“I’m telling you right here and now, those statements are absolutely

false,” he said.

The letter was paid for by the campaign committee that defeated the

measure.

Now that the election is over, Dettloff said she hopes everyone can let

bygones be bygones.

“I was really hoping this was part of our past,” she said.